Why this is a Masterpiece

The Buddha can be recognised by typical features such as the ushnisha - a bulge above the head - and the urna - a round spot on the forehead. The folds of the Buddha's cloak resemble those of the robes in Greek and Roman statues. The fine-cut face bears a meditative expression. A remarkable leaf motif and the capital of a Corinthian pillar decorate the pedestal.

History of the Object

According to the former owner of this statue, it was found close to the city of Jalalabad, in present-day Afghanistan, which once formed part of the province of Gandhara. Between the first and fourth centuries A.D. Gandhara, situated in the north-west of ancient India (now a part of modern Pakistan and Afghanistan), was a major centre for Buddhist art. It was also a centre of trade with the west. Gandhara art shows clear signs of Hellenistic and Roman influences, as in the way in which the facial expression, hair and clothing are represented.